Richard Belzer

Became the third person to play the same character in six different prime-time series, playing Detective John Munch in Homicide: Life on the Street (1993) (originating series), Law & Order (1990) (crossover), Law & Order: Trial by Jury (2005) (crossover), The X-Files (1993) (crossover), The Beat (2000) (guest appearance in the short-lived UPN series), and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999). He followed John Ratzenberger and George Wendt, who played Cliff Clavin and Norm Peterson in Cheers (1982), St. Elsewhere (1982), The Tortellis (1987), Wings (1990), The Simpsons (1989), and Frasier (1993). Belzer upped his record to eight series with an appearance in 2 episodes of Arrested Development (2003) during a scrap-booking sting(airing in 2006) and a cameo appearance in the 4th-to-last episode of David Simon's HBO series The Wire: Took (2008) (originally airing February 17, 2008); the appearance brought the character of Munch full circle as the character was born out of Simon's first series, Homicide, and in the scene he is hanging out in a police bar commenting on his experience owning a bar, which he did in Homicide.

Is a frequent guest on The Howard Stern Radio Show (1998).

During one week in November 1997, he played the same character (Detective John Munch) on three different series: Law & Order: Baby, It's You (1997) on 12 November 1997, Homicide: Life on the Street: Baby, It's You (1997) on 14 November 1997 and The X-Files: Unusual Suspects (1997) on 16 November 1997.

Testified on behalf of a low-level criminal who ran onto the set of Homicide: Life on the Street (1993) while fleeing actual Baltimore police and surrendered to the actors; Belzer said the look on the guy's face was sufficient punishment.

Has appeared in episodes of three different series with Jerry Orbach: Law & Order (1990), Homicide: Life on the Street (1993), and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999).

Wrestler Hulk Hogan hurt him while demonstrating a wrestling move on a television show called Hot Properties (1985). He was knocked unconscious and required stitches on his head. He sued Hogan for $5 million, but later settled out of court.

Was considered for the role of Clark Griswold in National Lampoon's Vacation (1983), which went to Chevy Chase.

Was going to appear in Chevy Chase's movie, Modern Problems (1981), but scheduling conflicts could not be worked out. The date for the shooting of his scene was postponed twice and the day his scene was supposed to be shot, Belzer had a lucrative club date in New York, which was postponed at the last minute.

Has played himself in the musical drama movie Fame (1980).

Has appeared on the March 25, 1978 episode of Saturday Night Live (1975) with Christopher Lee as the host and musical guest Meat Loaf.

Has appeared on the October 2, 1976 episode of Saturday Night Live (1975) with Eric Idle as the host and musical guests George Harrison, Joe Cocker and Stuff.

Was the audience warm-up comedian for Saturday Night Live (1975) in its premiere season and made three guest appearances on the show in 1976 and 1978.

Was one of the original emcees at Rick Newman's Catch a Rising Star, along with Elayne Boosler, in the mid to late 1970s.

Auditioned for the role of Groucho Marx in the Tommy Tune production "A Day in Hollywood, a Night in the Ukraine". Belzer taught himself two songs from the 1930s ("Satin Doll" and "Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?"), but did not get the role.